Bag Ban in Puerto Rico…What Your Business Needs to Know

Bag Ban In Puerto Rico Begins in December!

We have noticed an influx of orders for our reusable bags from Puerto Rico because starting this December, disposable plastic bags will be banned throughout the territory. Officials have been working to ban single-use plastic bags for a number of years.

This past December, Governor Alejandro García Padilla signed into law the Act for the Promotion of Reusable Bags and Regulation of Plastic Bags in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Act 247-2015. This law bans retail stores and commercial establishments from handing out disposable plastic bags effective December 24, 2016.

The Fine Print of the Bag Ban in Puerto Rico

Impacted businesses are required to place signs at cash registers and entrances informing customers about the ban and when it goes into effect. For the first six months after the ban goes into action, businesses that violate the ban will get a warning.

After the six month period, businesses will have to pay a $100 fine for a first offense, $150 for a second offense, and $200 for each subsequent violation. The money collected by the fines will be sent to the Special Fund for the Reduction, Reuse and Recycling of Solid Waste under the Solid Waste Authority. Paper bags are allowed under the law for a fee.

Reason Behind Banning Bags in Puerto Rico

Environmental concerns topped the list of reasons why disposable plastic bags had to go. This is certainly a very valid reason, and in a location like Puerto Rico, plastic litter can have dire consequences.

As an island, Puerto Rico obviously has a lot of coastline and the nice weather makes it possible for people to enjoy the outdoors pretty much all year. When people are outdoors they can be confronted with trash – it is out there and visible and it mars the natural beauty of the area.

Tourism is obviously a major part of Puerto Rico’s economy, so the eye sore that is litter can have some pretty serious consequences. But Litter is not just an eyesore, it is a terrible environmental problem that can harm animals and their habitats, and cause irreparable damage to ecosystems.

How the Bag Ban in Puerto Rico Impacts Business

The bag ban will certainly impact retailers who will soon be prohibited from handing out single-use plastic bags, but the law can also impact other businesses. There is going to be a significant demand from consumers for reusable shopping bags in Puerto Rico.

Consumers still need a way to carry their purchases home, so if the bag ban in Puerto Rico means single-use plastic bags are out and paper bags will be available for a fee, that leaves reusable bags.

This is a great time to consider creating a customized reusable bag to promote your brand and give shoppers a way to carry goods home from the store or market.

Custom Reusable Bags Deliver Value and Help the Planet

Custom reusable bags offer all of the benefits of disposable bags without any of the drawbacks. They are durable and designed to deliver years of use. Since they are intended to be used again and again, they will not be discarded as litter but tossed into the recycling bin when their usefulness comes to an end.

This durability also means you get the most from your marketing dollars when marketing with reusable bags. This is a promotional item that you will pay for now, but it will still be out there getting plenty of use and spreading your branding message several years from now.

Reusable bags can be made from a variety of materials, like recycled plastic or sustainable options, such as cotton, bamboo or jute. Utilizing eco materials adds to the eco-friendliness of the bags.

Fine-tune the look of your custom branded bag by choosing the colors of the material and the printing, adjust the handle length, add pockets, zippers, a headphone port or a key ring to give the bag a very functional and useful design.

Shoppers in Puerto Rico have plenty of reasons to make the switch to reusable bags. By creating a very useful reusable bag, especially for consumers in Puerto Rico and other areas impacted by bag bans, you are giving people something they need. As people use your branded bag, they will also promote your company and the products or services you provide.

Bright Future for Puerto Rico

We are very happy for Puerto Rico as this ban is a big step toward cleaning up litter and preserving the beauty of the island and surrounding waters.

Get in touch if you have questions about the design or manufacturing process and if you need a quote, feel free to use the quote request forms you see throughout our site.